PETER Kay is renowned for finding humour in everyday characters and situations – and his new series is no exception.

But in every other respect, Car Share – Peter’s first foray into TV for seven years and his debut show with the BBC – is quite a departure from his other work.

He has dispensed with the glamorous sets and big names of 2008’s Britain’s Got the Pop Factor.

In fact, most of the six episodes involve just him and his co-star Sian Gibson’s conversations as their characters – Peter’s assistant manager and Sian’s promotions rep - commute to and from the supermarket where they work thanks to a newly-introduced car share scheme.

And, in another first for the Bolton comedian, the whole series will be released online in one bundle, via iPlayer, before transferring to a regular slot on BBC1 in the spring.

The original idea for the series was conceived by one of Peter’s school friends, Paul Coleman and his friend Tim Reid.

Peter said: “Sian and I then made the scripts ‘bespoke’ and put more of our own life stories and personalities into the characters.

“I really liked the idea of just two people working together, the possibility of them being in a confined space, the potential of spiralling conversations and the opportunity to find humour in the daily commute that millions of people do every day.

“I also really liked the fact that the subject hadn’t been covered before in such a detailed way and I think that’s down to the fact that any kind of driving filming is time consuming and expensive. I think that’s the reason why it hasn’t been exploited before.

“With the advances in technology it was now possible.”

Those technological steps forward meant that the little Fiat 500 used for the production – which was also directed by Peter – could be rigged with the latest high definition kit.

He said: “As far as I'm aware prior to this shoot HD cameras were never small enough to be rigged in a vehicle in this way before and therefore driving shots like this hadn’t been achieved consistently across a series.

“We designed and fitted a camera rig into the Fiat that could specifically hold five cameras on the dashboard which then had to be rigged into a support vehicle, a specially adapted minibus that carried the crew who controlled the shots so we could film on the move, like a mobile television studio.

“It took quite a lot of experimental filming before we got it right and I'm really happy with the results as I've never seen interior vehicle filming captured in such a way before. All of the exterior shots are completely genuine and in real time.”

Peter’s co-star Sian is a close friend who has worked on screen with him in many of his TV productions, from his first pilot show with Granada in 1995 through to his last TV project, Britain’s Got The Pop Factor, in 2008 – with The Services, That Peter Kay Thing and Phoenix Nights in between.

Peter said: “The BBC where initially very nervous at me basically casting one of my friends as she is half of the show. Fortunately they were delighted with her performance when they saw a few rough edits.”

He added: “£Not only is it my first series for the BBC but it’s also my first series for 11 years, so there is a lot of apprehension about how it will be received.

“It’s very different and I honestly can’t think of anything else like it.

“The idea is very simple, but maybe that’s what people will like about it. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best.”

So, is there likely to be a second Car Share?

“We’ve got plenty of ideas but it’s all down to the public’s reaction to the series first and then see what happens,” said Peter.

While he has been involved in editing the episodes, Peter was also planning and organising the recent successful Phoenix Nights Live at the Phones4u Arena in Manchester, which has raised millions of pounds for this year’s Comic Relief.

He said: “I thoroughly enjoyed Phoenix Nights Live.

“It was like stepping back to a very happy time in my life and it continued like no time had passed working with the cast again.

“Plus it has raised a lot of money for a very worthy cause thanks to the enormous support of the people who took the time to buy a ticket.

“I honestly can’t thank them enough.

“I don’t know what the future holds for Phoenix Nights, but what I do know is that we all came away from it feeling very happy.”

*Meanwhile, Peter will be premièring Car Share at the Blackpool Opera House on Saturday March 28 in aid of Derian House Children's Hospice, Chorley.

All six episodes will be shown exclusively in the Winter Gardens’ 2,000-plus auditorium with a special introduction by Peter himself.